Card game

ABSTRACT

A game for one or more players utilizing a unique deck of cards or set of tiles and method of play is disclosed. The game consists of 81 numbered cards or tiles, nine each of numbers one through nine and may include additional cards or tiles without a number, to be used as wild cards. Each card or tile may have a color associated with it, in conjunction with or instead of a number. This game also utilizes a playing surface or game board having a grid of nine rows intersecting nine columns creating 81 smaller sections. The grid is marked into nine equal sections; each section therefore consisting of nine smaller sections. Players place one card or tile at a time on one of the smaller sections of the grid without duplicating any number already in that row, column or larger section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of this invention is a card game utilizing a unique deck ofcards, a game board or playing surface and a method of play. The presentinvention, different from the standard deck of 52, is a deck of 81numbered and/or colored cards consisting of nine each of numbers onethrough nine. Each number may have a color associated with it. Unlike ina common deck of cards where each suit has one card of each number, inthis invention the color would be the same for all cards of the samenumber. All ones would be the same color. Each two would be the samecolor as every other two and different from the ones, etc. The deck mayalso include cards without a number or specific color to be used as wildcards. The game of this invention may be played with tiles similar tothose used in the game of Scrabble rather than cards. Unlike Scrabble,these tiles have numbers and/or colors rather than letters. Thisinvention includes the option of a deck of 81 colored cards or set of 81colored tiles without numbers wherein there are nine cards or tiles ineach of nine different colors. This version may also have additionalcards that may be used as wild cards.

The game of this present invention may be played on any flat surfacesuch as a table or on the floor, but this invention also consists of agame board as do countless other games. This game board is unique inthat it is marked into a grid of 81 sections formed by nine rowsintersecting nine columns. Scrabble utilizes a game board with a grid,but it has 15 rows intersecting 15 columns. A Scrabble game board alsohas notations in some of the sections of the grid intended to modify thescore earned by placing a tile on that specific section. The presentinvention has no notations on any of the sections. The grid may befurther marked into nine larger sections similar to a tic, tac, toe gameor like a sudoku puzzle. Each larger section thus consists of ninesmaller sections. Unlike a sudoku puzzle, though, there are no numbersmarked on the grid.

This invention consists of more than one method of play. Cards or tilesare dealt to the players who take turns placing one card at a time onthe playing surface or game board so as to not duplicate a number orcolor already in that row, column or larger square. As a playercompletes a row, column or larger section, that player is awardedpoints. If a player notices that another player places a card or tile ina section and, by doing so, duplicates that number or color in that row,column or section, that player identifies the error. The player whoplaced the card/tile must take it back and the play is passed to thenext player. The player who identifies the error is awarded points.

Most games are intended for either children or adults; few areentertaining and/or challenging for both. The present invention is bothentertaining and challenging for many ages from young children toadults. This invention is educational and may be used as a learning toolto teach about colors, numbers, basic logic and strategy. Most cardgames are played either by a single person or interactively by more thanone player. This present invention may be played either way. This gameis also well suited to computer or electronic format. It is more complexthan tic, tac, toe and more versatile than a sudoku puzzle.

The level of challenge is not determined by the prearranged numbers of apuzzle as in a sudoku puzzle, but by the maturity or intellect of thoseplaying at any given time. The strategy and method of play aresignificantly different from completing a sudoku puzzle. With thepresent invention, a player attempts to complete a row, column or largersection before another player in order to earn more points than theopponent(s). While trying to earn points, each player also attempts toblock the other player(s) from earning points. A player may also earnpoints by removing or repositioning a card or tile that has been placedin an unacceptable smaller section by any player. Unlike a sudokupuzzle, the goal is not to discover a predetermined configuration ofnumbers by filling in the missing numbers. The goal in the presentinvention is to provide an inexhaustible number of playing experiencesfor any aged player either alone or interactively with one or more otherperson. The available games based on sudoku all utilize the same puzzleformat with numbers or other figures predetermined and printed on a gridor on a card intended to be placed in a grid. These games may suggestplayers collaborate to complete the puzzle or that players compete todetermine which player or team of players will complete the puzzlequicker. The present invention does not complete a predetermined puzzleand is not limited to a predetermined configuration. The method of playof the present invention may also be played by teams. A player would usestrategy to assist a partner in completing a row, column or largersection in order to maximize the team points. Partners would also usestrategy to prevent the other team(s) from scoring. The presentinvention also presents an element of chance. This also differentiatesthe present invention from a soduko puzzle. Each player is limited bythe card or cards he/she has available at any given time. As each cardor tile is selected by a player and played on the grid, it affects theoptions for future plays; each play may improve or limit a player'schances of earning points. Each person or team is striving to earn asmany points as possible while, at the same time, minimizing theopponent(s) points.

Like many other card games, this game is well suited to being played asa computer game or on an electronic device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a challenging and educational game for one ormore players consisting of a unique deck of real or virtual (as incomputer or electronic format) cards or tiles. The deck consists of 81numbered and/or colored cards or tiles and may include additional cardsor tiles to be used as wild cards. This invention also consists of asurface on which the cards or tiles are played. The surface may be atable, the floor, a game board, or in computer or electronic format. Theplaying surface is divided into a grid of nine rows intersecting ninecolumns creating 81 smaller sections. The surface is further markedbetween rows three and four, between rows six and seven, between columnsthree and four, and columns six and seven. This creates nine largersections, each containing nine of the smaller sections. The cards ortiles are played on the playing surface one at a time so as to notduplicate a previously played card or tile in any row, column or largersection. Points are earned by a player who completes a row, column,larger section or who notices where another player duplicated a numberor color in any row, column or larger section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention consists of a deck of cards or set of tiles, a playingsurface or game board and a method of play. The cards or tiles as wellas the playing surface of this invention may be real or may be virtualas in a computer or electronic game.

The cards or tiles may be made in any shape, including but not limitedto rectangular or square, and made of any material or in computer orelectronic format. There are 81 numbered cards or tiles, nine each ofnumbers one through nine. There may be a color associated with eachnumber; all like numbers with the same color. Therefore, all cards ortiles numbered one will have the same color. Each card or tile numberedtwo will have the same color as every other card or tile numbered two,but different from the color of any other number, etc. There may beadditional cards or tiles to be used as wild cards. The cards or tilesmay be colored but without any numbers, in which case there are ninecards or tiles in each of nine different colors.

Whether using cards or tiles, the playing surface or game board has agrid formed by nine rows intersecting nine columns. The grid has a moredefinite line or marking between rows three and four and between rowssix and seven. The grid is similarly marked between columns three andfour and between columns six and seven. This forms nine equal largersections, each consisting of nine smaller sections, three across andthree down. This game board may be made of any material including butnot limited to plastic, vinyl, wood, paper, cardboard or in computer orelectronic format.

The present invention is for one player as a game of solitaire or formore than one person to play interactively. One method of play is thatthe cards or tiles are all dealt to the players. Each player's cardsremain face down in front of him/her. Players take turns turning up thetop card (or randomly selecting a tile) from his/her pile and placingthat card or tile on one of the smaller sections of the playing surfaceor game board. The card/tile when played should not duplicate a numberor color already in that row, column or larger section. A player isawarded points when a card/tile is played that completes a row, columnor larger section. A player may also receive points for noticing whenanother player places a card/tile in a position that duplicates a numberor color in that row, column or larger section. The game may consist ofone round and the player with the most points wins. The game may consistof a predetermined number of rounds or as many rounds as needed for aplayer to reach a predetermined score.

Instead of dealing all of the cards/tiles at the beginning of the game,a variation to the method of play is to deal nine (or anotherpredetermined number of) cards or tiles to each person. Players look atthe cards/tiles that they have. Each player in turn plays a card or tileonto the game board or playing surface in the manner described above.That player's turn concludes by the player drawing another card or tile,thus maintaining nine cards or tiles. As in the other variation, theplay continues until no player is able to play another card or tile. Inthis variation, as above, the game may consist of one such round of playor more. The game may continue with additional rounds of play until aplayer reaches a predetermined score.

Scoring may include each player subtracting a number equal to the numberof cards or tiles he/she has left from any points earned during play. Aplayer may receive points when pointing out an opponent has placed acard/tile that duplicates a number or color in any row, column or largersquare.

The strategy changes if a person plays this present invention as a gameof solitaire. Instead of trying to prevent the opponent(s) fromreceiving points, a person playing alone would try to strategize inorder to complete as many rows, columns and larger sections as possiblebefore being unable to continue. The ultimate goal would be to play theentire deck of cards or tiles without any unallowable duplication of acard or tile in any row, column or larger square.

The present invention may also be played with partners or teamscompeting against one another. Partners would sit across from oneanother. The play would proceed as in one of the manners describedabove, but could have some additional options. A player could pass histurn to his partner. In doing so, the opponent(s) between the player andhis partner are also passed. This strategy may improve the team's chanceof earning points on that turn. It is a risk though, as a player mustskip his/her turn and the partner may not be able to make any points onthat turn. When a wild card is drawn, a player could be allowed to playthat card and draw the next, providing additional benefit to a wildcard. It would also contribute to the strategy if a player knows thereis a chance he/she will be able to play two cards on that turn.

Another variation on the method of play would have everyonecollaborating to earn as many points as possible. This would beespecially useful for a family playing the game together or with a groupof students in a classroom setting. The goal would be to earn as manypoints as possible in a designated period of time and/or to earn morepoints than other groups. This provides a tool to teach numbers, colors,basic logic, strategy, and cooperation.

1. A game for one or more players comprising a unique deck of 81numbered cards or tiles, nine each of numbers one through nine.
 2. Thegame of claim 1 wherein, in addition to the numbered cards or tiles,there are additional cards or tiles without a number that may be used aswild cards.
 3. The game of claim 1 wherein each numbered card or tilehas a color associated with its number, each like number having the samecolor.
 4. A game for one or more players comprising a unique deck of 81colored cards or tiles, nine each of nine different colors.
 5. The gameof claim 4 wherein, in addition to the colored cards or tiles, there areadditional cards or tiles that may be used as wild cards.
 6. The game ofclaim 1 wherein the cards or tiles are made of any material and are anyshape, including but not limited to rectangular or square, or are incomputer or electronic format.
 7. The game of claim 4 wherein the cardsor tiles are made of any material and are any shape, including but notlimited to rectangular or square, or are in computer or electronicformat.
 8. The game of claim 1 or claim 4 utilizing a game board, madeof any material or in computer or electronic format, which is markedwith a grid of 81 sections formed by nine rows intersecting 9 columnsand further marked between rows three and four, between rows six andseven, between columns three and four and between columns six and sevento form nine larger sections, each of which has nine smaller sections.9. The game of claim 1 or claim 4 wherein the player(s) take turnsplacing a card or tile on a section of the grid without duplicating anumber or color already in that row, column or larger section, receivingpoints when the card he/she plays completes a row, column or largersection; one round is completed when no player can play another card orwhen a player has played all of his/her cards.
 10. The game of claim 9wherein all cards or tiles are dealt to the player(s) at the beginningof play.
 11. The game of claim 9 wherein a designated number of cards ortiles are dealt to the player(s) at the beginning of play and after aplayer takes a turn playing a card or tile, he/she draws another card ortile, keeping the same number of cards or tiles in his/her hand.
 12. Thegame of claim 9 wherein points are awarded to a player who notices thata card or tile played by another player has duplicated a number or colorin that row, column or larger section.
 13. The game of claim 9 whereinthe game ends when a player reaches a predetermined score.
 14. The gameof claim 9 wherein the game ends when a predetermined number of roundshave been played with the winner being the player with the highestscore.